Didier Drogba holds high praise for MLS Cup finalist Columbus Crew

After having his Montreal Impact eliminated from the MLS playoffs by the Columbus Crew, Didier Drogba has nothing but high praise for the MLS Cup host.

Drogba, impressed with the way Gregg Berhalter's side approaches the game, lauded the Crew on the Planet Fútbol Podcast ahead of Sunday's final at MAPFRE Stadium.

"Columbus deserves to be where they are now," Drogba told SI's Grant Wahl. "They played well. I think from what I saw and from all the games that I played they're the team that played the best football since I came to the league. They're the first team I saw playing good football with this kind of identity. New York Red Bull is not bad either, but Columbus I think was very good."

Drogba did not play against the other MLS Cup finalist, the Portland Timbers, in his 11 MLS regular season games.

Columbus ousted Montreal 4-3 on aggregate in the Eastern Conference semifinals after a second leg that went to extra time and ended after Kei Kamara's series-winning goal. In the first leg, Drogba engaged in an awkward moment with Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark, grabbing his leg after a sliding tackle and holding on for an extended period of time. Drogba shared his side of the story.

"Everybody is showing me grabbing his leg, but nobody came back to the fact that he stepped on my leg. I did a bad tackle and missed, but he stood on my leg, so that's why I was grabbing his leg and stopping him. But they were showing only the end of the situation. But it's O.K., you know, it can happen."